Gay Catholic Encounters Evangelical Passion at Funeral

I meant to share this story a couple of months ago. It shows how someone's opinion of evangelical Christians can be changed when they visit a church and see evangelical Christianity in action.

In April gay Catholic blogger Andrew Sullivan wrote about attending a friend's funeral. "I have never been to a mega-church service – which is something to be ashamed of, since I have written so often about evangelicalism’s political wing. And it was revealing."

Sullivan observed evangelicals worship and it left a destinct impression upon him. "And the choir was a Christian pop band, young, hip-looking, bearded, unpretentious and excellent. Before long, I was singing and swaying and smiling with the best of them."

Sullivan learned an important lesson:

What I guess I’m trying to say is that so many of us have come to view evangelical Christianity as threatening, and in its political incarnation, it is at times. But freed from politics, evangelical Christianity has a passion and joy and Scriptural mastery we could all learn from.

Sullivan's friend, David Kuo, died after a long battle with brain cancer. Kuo served as Deputy Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives during George W. Bush's first term as president.

After leaving the White House, he wrote a book, describing the Bush White House as having sought political gain through the manipulation of religious faith and called the initiative a "sad charade." "National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles in person and then were dismissed behind their backs and described as 'ridiculous,' 'out of control,' and just plain 'goofy,'" Kuo wrote in Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction.